Renal clearance of graphene oxide: glomerular filtration or tubular secretion and selective kidney injury association with its lateral dimension

Combination Diagnostics In Vivo: Dual-Mode Ultrasound/NIR Fluorescence Imaging with Neodymium- and Thulium-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots

The combination of two biomedical imaging techniques, fluorescence and ultrasound imaging, can uniquely offer enhanced anatomical visualization, sensitivity, and specificity necessary for improved diagnostic accuracy in detecting small tumors, tracing therapeutic delivery, and guiding biopsies. This work aims to harness the advantages of highly deterministic fluorescence imaging and deeply penetrating ultrasound diagnostics in neodymium- and thulium-doped graphene quantum dot (Nd-NGQD and Tm-NGQD) ultrasound/near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence contrast agents. These biocompatible nanostructures are tested for dual-mode fluorescence/ultrasound imaging in vivo in live sedated BALB/c mice as well as in animal organs. Injected intravenously (IV), Tm-NGQDs and Nd-NGQDs exhibit ultrasound enhancement and NIR fluorescence in the liver, spleen, and kidneys. The best agreement is achieved between the two techniques in the liver at 12 h for Tm-NGQDs and in the liver at 24 h, in the spleen at 6 h, and in the kidneys at 12 h for Nd-NGQDs, suggesting the optimal timeline for imaging. IP-injected Nd-NGQDs demonstrate a greater consistency between ultrasound enhancement and NIR fluorescence within 1-48 h time points in all imaged organs. Metal-doped GQD contrast agents developed for the first time in this work hold significant promise for dual-mode ultrasound-fluorescence imaging, paving the way for improved diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring.

Hematological Response to Particle Debris Generated During Wear-Corrosion Processes of CoCr Surfaces Modified with Graphene Oxide and Hyaluronic Acid for Joint Prostheses

Various surface modifications to increase the lifespan of cobalt-chromium (CoCr) joint prostheses are being studied to reduce the wear rate in bone joint applications. One recently proposed modification involves depositing graphene oxide functionalized with hyaluronic acid (a compound present in joints) on CoCr surfaces, which can act as a solid lubricant. This paper analyzes the biological alterations caused by wear-corrosion phenomena that occur in joints, both from the perspective of the worn surface (in vitro model) and the particles generated during the wear processes (in vivo model). The analysis of the inflammatory response of macrophage was performed on CoCr surfaces modified with graphene oxide and functionalized with hyaluronic acid (CoCr-GO-HA), before and after wear-corrosion processes. The wear particles released during the wear-corrosion tests of the CoCr-GO-HA/CoCr ball pair immersed in 3 g/L hyaluronic acid were intra-articularly injected into the experimental animals. The hematological analysis in vivo was made considering a murine model of intra-articular injection into the left knee in male adult Wistar rats, at increasing concentrations of the collected wear particles dispersed in 0.9% NaCl. Non-significant differences in the inflammatory response to unworn CoCr-GO-HA surfaces and control (polystyrene) were obtained. The wear-corrosion of the CoCr-GO-HA disk increased the inflammatory response at both 72 and 96 h of material exposure compared to the unworn CoCr-GO-HA surfaces, although the differences were not statistically significant. The pro-inflammatory response of the macrophages was reduced on the worn surfaces of the CoCr modified and functionalized with graphene oxide (GO) and hyaluronic acid (HA), compared to the worn surfaces of the unmodified CoCr. The hematological analysis and tissue reactions after intra-articular injection did not reveal pathological damage, with average hematological values recorded, although slight reductions in creatinine and protein within non-pathological ranges were found. Some traces of biomaterial particles in the knee at the highest concentration of injected particles were only found but without inflammatory signs. The results show the potential benefits of using graphene in intra-articular prostheses, which could improve the quality of life for numerous patients.

Fullerenols as efficient ferroptosis inhibitor by targeting lipid peroxidation for preventing drug-induced acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by rapid and significant deterioration of renal function over a short duration with high mortality. However, the intricate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying AKI have hindered the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Recent research has highlighted the crucial role of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of AKI and has identified it as a promising therapeutic target. Herein, we investigated the prophylactic efficacy of fullerenol nanoparticles, renowned for their broad-spectrum free radical scavenging capabilities and favorable biocompatibility, in preventing and mitigating ferroptosis-mediated cisplatin-induced AKI. Our findings demonstrate the remarkable potential of fullerenols in mitigating AKI. Specifically, fullerenols exert their protective effects primarily by suppressing renal lipid peroxidation and ferrous iron accumulation, which are two defining hallmarks of ferroptosis. Notably, fullerenols significantly inhibited the upregulation of key enzymes involved in the intracellular lipid peroxidation induced by cisplatin, including acyl-coA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4), arachidonate lipoxygenase 3 (ALOXE3), and cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR), and enhanced antioxidant systems xc-/Glutathione (GSH)/Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Fullerenols also significantly suppressed the increase in mRNA expression of iron regulation-related genes and prevented the elevation of low-valent iron levels in the kidney tissue of AKI mice. Collectively, our study presents fullerenol as a promising drug candidate for the prevention of AKI in clinical settings, and provides valuable insights into the management of various ferroptosis-associated diseases.

Carbon nanomaterials as carriers for the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin: a review on theoretical and experimental studies

The incidence of cancer is increasing worldwide in a life-threatening manner. In such a scenario, the development of anti-cancer drugs with minimal side effects and effective drug delivery systems is of paramount importance. Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the powerful anti-cancer drugs from the chemical family anthracycline, which is used to treat a wide variety of cancers, including breast, prostate, ovarian, and hematological malignancies. However, DOX has been associated with many side effects, including lethal cardiotoxicity, baldness, gastrointestinal disturbances and cognitive function impairment. Even though DOX is administered in liposomal formulations to reduce its toxicity and enhance its therapeutic profile, the liposomal formulations themselves have certain therapeutic profile limitations such as "palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE)", which shows severe swelling and redness in the skin, thus restricting the dosage and reducing patient compliance. In contemporary chemotherapy research, there is a great interest in the utilization of nanomaterials for precise and targeted drug delivery applications, especially using carbon-based nanomaterials. This review provides a comprehensive overview of both experimental and theoretical scientific works, exploring diverse forms of carbon-based materials such as graphene, graphene oxide, and carbon nanotubes that function as carriers for DOX. In addition, the review consolidates information on the fate of the carriers after the delivery of the payload at the site of action through different imaging techniques and the various pathways through which the body eliminates these nanomaterials. In conclusion, the review presents a detailed overview of the toxicities associated with these carriers within the human body, contributing to the development of enhanced drug delivery systems.

Environmental and Health Impacts of Graphene and Other Two-Dimensional Materials: A Graphene Flagship Perspective

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted tremendous interest ever since the isolation of atomically thin sheets of graphene in 2004 due to the specific and versatile properties of these materials. However, the increasing production and use of 2D materials necessitate a thorough evaluation of the potential impact on human health and the environment. Furthermore, harmonized test protocols are needed with which to assess the safety of 2D materials. The Graphene Flagship project (2013-2023), funded by the European Commission, addressed the identification of the possible hazard of graphene-based materials as well as emerging 2D materials including transition metal dichalcogenides, hexagonal boron nitride, and others. Additionally, so-called green chemistry approaches were explored to achieve the goal of a safe and sustainable production and use of this fascinating family of nanomaterials. The present review provides a compact survey of the findings and the lessons learned in the Graphene Flagship.